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ALBERT M. U-TLEY;

Improvement in Blacking Boxes.

Patented Nov. 21, 1871-.

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ALBERT M. UTLEY, OF WATERTOWN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN BLACKING-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,069, dated November 21, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT M. UTLEY, of Watertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of. New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Blacking-Boxes, of which the following is a specification:

My invention consists of a blacking-box, composed of two parts,answering to the blackingbox proper and cover, hinged together, so that when the two parts are unfolded for use the upper part or cover will turn back far enough to form a cup or receptacle to hold water, into which the blacking-brush may be dipped. With this device a handle may be combined, and this bandle may be either removable or not, as preferred.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the blackingbox with its parts unfolded and ready for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the box closed.

A is the blacking-box proper, which is preferably formed with a concave inner surface, or with slanting sides, so as to allow the brush to take all of the blacking from the box without trouble. To the box is united, by a horizontal hinge at one side, an inverted box or a cover, B, which is so arranged that it can be turned back so as to lie level, or nearly so, with the blacking-box, as shown in Fig. 1; and this part, when so turned back, is used to contain the water, into which the blacking-brush can be dipped. The inside of this cover or upper part is also preferably made concave. With the box may be combined a handle, (3, which may be removable or not, as desired. On some accounts, as, for instance, in packing, it is better, when a handle is employed, to have it removable; and this arrangement is shown in the drawing, a tenon, a, on the end of the handle fitting snugly a corresponding socket in the body of the box, from which socket it may be withdrawn whenever required. I propose to make the box of either wood or tin or other metal. If made of metal, the box will be swaged out or otherwise formed, as usual in such cases, with the handle, if one be used, secured by soldering, rivets, or other means. The box may also be cast from malleable iron, but would be somewhat more expensive when made in this way unless cast very light. A wood box can, however, be very readily made, and such a box is represented in the drawing.

The box above described possesses many advantages over blacking-boxes as usually made. The cover is permanently secured to the box, and cannot therefore be cast aside, mislaid, or lost, as is so frequently the case with the covers of ordinary blacking-boxes. The concave form of the box allows the brush to clean out all the blacking, and the arrangement of the cover is such as to render it, when turned back, a very convenient receptacle for water. The whole device is neat, compact, and inexpensive.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A blacking-box, composed of a blacking-box proper, (with or without a handle, removable or not, as preferred,) and a hinged cover having a water-receptacle on its under side, and arranged for operation, substantially as shown and .described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT M. UTLEY.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. MGCARTIN,

ANDREW J. MOORE. (16) 

